Most Popular Halloween Candy, Ranked
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and M&M's are the most popular Halloween candies of 2026 according to different reports. Instacart finds Reese's is the top choice in 40 states, though Montana prefers HI-CHEW. Other state favorites include Starburst and Twix. Conversely, WLS-AM reports M&M's as the most popular. Connecticut's preference for Sour Patch Kids aligns with a national ranking provided by Inner Body. While some brands dominate nationally, regional preferences and spending habits vary across the United States.
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- ✓ Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the top Halloween candy in 40 states according to Instacart.
- ✓ The most popular Halloween candies by state include Starburst and Twix.
What changed
Instacart and WLS-AM released 2026 reports identifying Reese's and M&M's as top candies.
Live updates
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Reese's and M&M's Lead 2026 Halloween Candy Rankings
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and M&M's are the most popular Halloween candies of 2026 according to different reports. Instacart finds Reese's is the top choice in 40 states, though Montana prefers HI-CHEW. Other state favorites include Starburst and Twix. Conversely, WLS-AM reports M&M's as the most popular. Connecticut's preference for Sour Patch Kids aligns with a national ranking provided by Inner Body. While some brands dominate nationally, regional preferences and spending habits vary across the United States.
Why it matters
Annual candy rankings reflect consumer purchasing trends and regional taste preferences. These metrics are often derived from delivery data or retail reports. Pediatric dentists use these trends to warn parents about the impact of high sugar intake on children's teeth.
What is confirmed
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the top Halloween candy in 40 states according to Instacart.
- The most popular Halloween candies by state include Starburst and Twix.
Still unconfirmed
- Sour Patch Kids are the most popular candy brand nationally for 2026 according to Inner Body.
What to watch next
- Release of comprehensive 2026 spending data per resident by state from Mental Floss.
- Consolidated national ranking that reconciles discrepancies between Instacart, WLS-AM, and Inner Body data.
confidence 70%Sources used for this update (24)
- www.ea.com — Electronic Arts Home Page - Official EA Site
- Newser — Most Popular Halloween Candy, Ranked
- Axios — Your state's Halloween candy craving
- Yahoo — Most popular Halloween candy by state includes Starburst, Twix
- Reader's Digest — This Is the Most Popular Halloween Candy in Your State
- The Quad-City Times — MARK-TO-MARKET: From costumes to candy: The biggest Halloween trends of the year
- Yahoo — 7 Halloween Candy Statistics That Show What Americans Prefer
- ABC17NEWS — Instacart's Halloween report: Reese's is No.1, regional candy quirks and the iconic banana costume
- www.mentalfloss.com — The States That Spend the Most on Halloween Candy, Ranked - Mental Floss
- www.nbcboston.com — The most popular Halloween candy in 2026 – NBC Boston
- www.newser.com — Most Popular Halloween Candy, Ranked - Newser
- cashwalklabs.io — Most Popular Halloween Candy, Ranked | Global Cashwalk
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